Synthesis of the aglycon of aspafiliosides E and F based on cascade reactions.

A synthesis of C17α-OH-tigogenin, the aglycon of aspafiliosides E and F, is described. The main features of the synthesis are three cascade processes, which involve the iodo-lactonization of furostan-26-acid to open ring E, a cascade hydrolysis/intramolecular SN2 process to close ring E, and a cascade intramolecular redox-ketalization process to close ring F. This synthesis would enrich the strategies used for the manipulation of spiroketals in steroidal sapogenins and other substrates.